Building on the spirit of the Politburo’s Resolution 59 on international integration issued in 2025, Resolution 6 represents an advancement in Vietnam’s foreign policy mindset. It aims to develop Vietnam’s external affairs in a manner commensurate with its historical, cultural, and international stature.
Major orientations for foreign affairs
Dr. Nguyen Hong Hai, Assistant Professor at VinUniversity and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, said that Party leader and President To Lam’s speech identified 5 major orientations for Vietnam’s foreign affairs and 4 key issues regarding implementation. The speech is a guide for foreign affairs within Vietnam’s strategic development goals through 2045.
“I would summarize the core message in four points: strategic autonomy, self-reliant development, enhanced national standing, and responsible contribution. The new concept here is the emphasis on elevating Vietnam’s position in the international arena, which reflects a new stature and confidence forged through four decades of renewal and development. Vietnam is now ready to further enhance its standing globally. These objectives must be pursued as an integrated goal with close interconnections rather than as separate and isolated goals,” said Dr. Hai.
One of Mr. Lam’s most notable points was designating foreign affairs as a “vital and regular task” on a par with national defense and security. According to Dr. Hai, this elevation reflects the strategic vision of the Party and State leadership. Viewed from a broader perspective, national defense, security, and foreign affairs are closely interconnected. “The analyses and strategic directions of Party leader and President Lam demonstrate a comprehensive strategic mindset and vision regarding foreign affairs in the new era. What impressed me most was the overarching spirit of strategic autonomy and national self-reliance in a rapidly evolving world and a new era. Today, we must harness our own strengths for national development, and this naturally encompasses self-reliance. But, strategic autonomy and self-reliance doesn’t mean isolating ourselves from the international community. On the contrary, we should engage more deeply with the world. Vietnam is part of, and a responsible member of, global politics, the global economy, and human civilization.”
Competition is inevitable
In his speech, Party leader and President Lam emphasized that competition is an inevitable feature of international relations. Recognizing this reality has helped Vietnam clarify its orientation and ways of implementing foreign policy, said Dr. Hai. “To safeguard national sovereignty, promote development, and protect the country’s strategic space for growth, Vietnam, an inseparable part of the world, must act proactively. We must actively participate in shaping the rules of the game, while also contributing to the establishment of mechanisms that ensure those rules are effectively implemented and aligned with national interests. I believe this is the right approach and the right course of action. This transformation in thinking,will help to achieve the goals set by the 14th National Party Congress. It also reflects a universal principle: development serves national defense, and effective national defense requires sustained development.”
The speech by Party General Secretary and President To Lam indicates that foreign affairs plays a crucial role in safeguarding national interests, shaping a peaceful environment, expanding development opportunities, enhancing the country’s international standing, and forming global rules and norms.
